Podcast
Business Builders
Hosted by Conor Kearney · ENGLISH
I created Business Builders as a weekly interview series to have honest conversations with business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors about their journeys; their successes, setbacks, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. As a growing business builder myself, I want to learn directly from my guests and share those insights with you. My goal is to provide listeners with practical takeaways, fresh perspectives, and real inspiration to help you on your own path to building and growing a business.
135episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
“I Built a Multi-Million Euro Business With €1,000” | Troy Armour, Junk Kouture
5d ago01:35:13Tap to summarize🔔🔔 Troy Armour reveals how he built Junk Kouture from a €1,000 idea into a global movement, and why he believes most entrepreneurs are driven by trauma, creativity, and the need to stand out 🔔🔔Join the movement to help spread 1 Million good deeds at Mo Chuisle: https://30daysofgooddeeds.com/Troy Armour joins Business Builders for one of the most wide-ranging and unconventional conversations we’ve ever had, covering entrepreneurship, creativity, trauma, AI, identity, leadership, and the deeper psychology behind building businesses.What began as a small creative idea with just €1,000 in the bank grew into Junk Kouture: a global platform spanning more than 100,000 young people across 74 nationalities, helping students express themselves through creativity, fashion, storytelling, and performance.But Troy’s story is about far more than building a successful business.He explains why he believes most entrepreneurs are “addicts” driven by feelings of not being enough, how childhood experiences shape ambition, and why creativity often emerges from pressure, pain, and constraint.Along the way, Troy shares the early hustle behind Junk Kouture; writing letters to nearly 1,000 schools because he couldn’t afford marketing, persuading venues to host events for free, and figuring everything out in real time with no roadmap and almost no money.The conversation also explores Troy’s deeply personal journey of self-discovery: from leadership struggles and burnout, to ayahuasca retreats in Brazil, vulnerability, shame, and learning to accept himself.He also discusses the future of AI, why he believes we are entering “the age of creativity,” and how artificial intelligence will fundamentally reshape business, software, and work itself over the next decade.This is a conversation about ambition, identity, creativity, healing, and what really drives people to build.“If you don’t fit in, then maybe you were born to stand out.”🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn 🎧: How Troy built Junk Kouture starting with just €1,000 Why constraints and lack of money can create better businesses The unconventional early growth story behind Junk Kouture Why Troy believes most entrepreneurs are driven by trauma and insecurity The similarities between entrepreneurial obsession and addiction How creativity and pressure are deeply connected What Troy learned about leadership after nearly burning out Why vulnerability and shame shape so much of human behaviour The personal story behind Troy’s ayahuasca experience in Brazil Why he believes “most people leave school broken” How Junk Kouture helps young people build confidence and identity Why AI will transform business and usher in “the age of creativity” Troy’s predictions for the future of software, SaaS, and entrepreneurship Why environment and proximity changed the scale of his ambition What success, happiness, and fulfillment really mean to him now
Transcribe →“You Can’t Build a Business Without Hard Decisions” | Colin Culliton, Kith&Kin
4w ago01:04:58Tap to summarize🔔🔔 Colin Culliton reveals why you can’t build a successful business without making hard decisions - and the realities of scaling through crisis 🔔🔔Colin Culliton joins Business Builders to share the story of how he built and scaled a multi-million euro print and communications group, and the hard decisions that defined his journey.What began as a small “me too” printing company with six people grew into a €20M group of businesses spanning design, marketing, events, and more. But the path from startup to scale was anything but smooth.Colin explains how he approached growth in a traditional, highly competitive industry, starting with organic growth before using acquisitions to accelerate scale and expand into new areas.Along the way, he learned that business success isn’t about avoiding problems; it’s about facing them head-on. Nowhere was this clearer than during the 2008 financial crisis, when Colin made the counterintuitive decision to cut headcount while the business was still booming - a move that ultimately saved the company.In this episode, Colin breaks down what it really takes to build a long-term business: from making tough calls under pressure, to trusting your instincts, to building teams that can solve problems better than you can.He also reflects on leadership, the realities of managing multiple businesses, and why the fear of failure never truly goes away - no matter how successful you become.This is a conversation about resilience, decision-making, and the truth behind what it takes to survive and scale a business over decades.“If you think you can avoid hard decisions and build a business over the long term - you just can’t.” 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Colin started his first business - and why the idea itself mattered less than taking action How to grow a company in a traditional, competitive industry The role of acquisitions in scaling a business faster Why making hard decisions quickly is critical to long-term success What founders get wrong about growth during good times How Colin navigated the 2008 financial crisis and protected his business Why trusting your instincts is one of the most important skills in business The challenges of managing multiple businesses and leaders How to build teams with diverse thinking and strong problem-solving ability Why fear of failure never goes away - and how it drives performance ⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - Cold open 01:00 - Introducing Colin Culliton 02:00 - Starting a “me too” printing business 05:30 - Winning early clients and building trust 10:30 - Dyslexia as a problem-solving advantage 15:00 - Early growth and first acquisition 20:30 - Scaling through acquisitions vs organic growth 25:00 - Spotting risk before the 2008 crash 27:00 - Cutting headcount before the downturn 31:00 - Surviving the financial crisis 34:00 - Lessons from competitors failing 38:00 - Leadership, learning, and self-development 41:00 - How to approach buying a business 47:00 - Managing multiple companies and leaders 53:00 - Why business is always a fight 56:00 - Success, money, and what really matters 59:00 - Sacrifices and work-life balance 01:01:00 - Fear of failure and final adviceTopics covered:Entrepreneurship, business growth, leadership, acquisitions, scaling a business, financial crisis, decision-making, founder mindset, SME strategy, resilience, Colin Culliton
Transcribe →"This Is What It Takes To Really Scale a Business" | Ciaran Burke, Swoop
Apr 1301:00:57Tap to summarize🔔🔔 Ciaran Burke, CEO and co-founder of Swoop, shares how he built a global fintech platform helping 300,000+ businesses access over £2BN in funding - and the brutal realities behind scaling a startup 🔔🔔Ciaran Burke joins Business Builders to share the story behind Swoop and the realities of building and scaling a fintech company in the modern funding landscape.What started as a simple idea - helping small businesses navigate the complex world of finance - has grown into a global platform operating across multiple countries, connecting businesses with loans, equity, grants, and financial insights.But the journey from early-stage startup to international scale was anything but smooth.Ciaran shares the often unseen side of entrepreneurship; from sleepless nights during funding rounds to the pressure of keeping a team motivated while facing uncertainty behind the scenes.Along the way, he learned one of the most important lessons in business; not all revenue is created equal. Growth can look impressive on the surface, but without understanding margins and key drivers, it can actually hold a business back.In this episode, Ciaran breaks down what it really takes to scale a company: understanding your numbers, making tough decisions about where to focus, and navigating the emotional and operational challenges that come with growth.He also explains why many founders misunderstand funding, how businesses limit themselves by relying on a single source of finance, and why being “funding ready” is more important than ever.This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, fintech, and the reality of building a business in an increasingly complex and competitive environment.“Not all revenue is the same… some of it looks good, but you’re actually giving most of it away.”🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:Why Ciaran co-founded Swoop and the problem it solves for businesses The hidden realities of fundraising and founder pressure Why not all revenue is equal - and how to think about margin How small improvements in key metrics can drive massive growth What it really means to be “funding ready” Why many founders give up too early when seeking finance How to understand and track the most important numbers in your business The challenges of building a two-sided marketplace Why having a co-founder can be critical during tough periods What it takes to scale a business across multiple countries⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - Cold open 01:00 - Introducing Ciaran Burke and Swoop 03:30 - The problem with business funding 08:00 - How Swoop works and makes money 12:00 - Early days and building the business 15:30 - The challenge of two-sided marketplaces 26:00 - Why not all revenue is equal 30:30 - Being funding ready and understanding your numbers 40:40 - Founder pressure and fundraising stress 42:00 - The importance of co-founders 48:30 - Building a business internationally 55:00 - Lessons from scaling SwoopTopics covered:Entrepreneurship, fintech, Swoop, startup funding, business finance, scaling a business, founders, cashflow, revenue vs profit, two-sided marketplaces, leadership, startup growth.
Transcribe →“You Don’t Need More Hustle, You Need This System” - Willie McMahon, EOS
Apr 601:36:26Tap to summarize🔔🔔 Willie McMahon built, scaled, and sold a 45-person engineering business - then walked away to help other founders do it better. 🔔🔔Willie is giving away 10 copies of the book Traction on a first come first served basis. If you’re running a company with between 10 - 250 employees, contact Willie to get your free copy: willie.mcmahon@eosworldwide.comWillie McMahon, EOS Implementer and founder of CalX (exited) joins Business Builders to share how he went from a one-man operation to building and exiting a scaling engineering business - and what he learned along the way.Starting with no plan, no funding, and no support network, Willie built a calibration and instrumentation business from scratch. What began as a solo operation grew into a 45-person company, navigating cash flow pressure, hiring challenges, and the realities of bootstrapping - before eventually merging and exiting.But the journey wasn’t smooth. Growth nearly broke the business multiple times. Hiring mistakes, cash constraints, and operational complexity forced hard decisions - including turning down major opportunities that could have destroyed everything.Willie shares how 90-day execution cycles and relentless problem-solving helped them scale - even before formally discovering EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System).The conversation dives into what actually drives business success: people, structure, and clarity. Willie explains why most problems are not what they seem, why founders are often the bottleneck, and how systems - not effort - create scalable companies.He also opens up about the emotional side of building and selling a business: risk, fear, responsibility, and the moment you realise you’re responsible for other people’s livelihoods.Now working with founders through EOS, Willie helps businesses break through growth ceilings, build stronger cultures, and create structure that enables freedom.This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, scaling, leadership, and building a business that actually works.“It's not the person - it's the system around them.”🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:How Willie built and scaled a business from 1 to 45 people Why most businesses hit growth ceilings (and how to break through them) The reality of bootstrapping and managing cash flow Why hiring “another you” is a mistake How to think about risk as a founder Why short-term (90-day) thinking drives long-term growth The importance of culture and hiring the right people How to structure a business for scale Why most problems are systems problems, not people problems The emotional reality of selling a business How EOS helps founders gain clarity, control, and freedom Why you must grow as a person to grow your business⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - Cold open 00:55 - Introducing Willie McMahon and EOS 02:00 - What calibration and instrumentation actually is 05:00 - Early career and falling into the industry 08:30 - The moment he decided to start his own business 11:00 - First hires and early hiring mistakes 14:30 - “I didn’t need another me” 16:00 - Bootstrapping and surviving on cash flow 18:00 - 90-day targets and early growth 21:00 - Becoming an employer and responsibility for people 23:00 - Turning down a huge opportunity 26:00 - Fear, risk, and decision-making as a founder 30:00 - Discovering EOS and business frameworks 33:00 - Why founders must grow to scale their business 37:00 - Building culture (and the fictional character hiring test) 42:00 - Merging the business and scaling rapidly 46:00 - Managing operations, hiring, and field teams 53:00 - Marketing tactics that actually worked 57:00 - Growth during COVID and scaling chall
Transcribe →“There Is No Finish Line in Business” | Gowri Subramanian, Aspire Systems
Mar 3001:08:44Tap to summarize🔔🔔 Gowri Subramanian built a $200M global software company over 25 years - without venture capital 🔔🔔Gowri Subramanian, CEO of Aspire Systems, joins Business Builders to share how he built and scaled a global technology services company from zero to $200M in revenue; entirely bootstrapped.What started as a group of seven friends with no clear plan or funding became a 4,500-person software and technology services business working with global enterprises across the US, Europe, and beyond. But the journey was slow and difficult. It took years to find product-market fit, pivot away from a non-scaling business model, and reach profitability.Gowri explains how Aspire evolved from an industrial engineering consultancy into a software product engineering company, a pivot that unlocked growth. Instead of raising venture capital, the company reinvested profits and used debt funding to scale, taking a long-term approach. Moving from $10M to $100M required one set of capabilities; but, scaling beyond that meant competing with global firms like Accenture, Capgemini, and Infosys. Gowri shares why every stage requires a different company, strategy, and mindset.The conversation also explores AI and its impact on the software industry. Gowri explains why AI threatens traditional time-and-materials models, while also creating opportunities in legacy modernisation, enterprise transformation, and custom software.Beyond strategy, this episode dives into leadership, culture, and long-term thinking. Gowri shares why people and open feedback are critical to scaling, and why he’s focused on building a business for the long term - not for exit - including creating impact through philanthropy in India.This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, scaling, AI disruption, and building something that lasts.“Business is a rat race - there is no finish line.”🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:How Gowri built Aspire Systems into a $200M global company Why the first 7 years of business were the hardest The importance of pivoting when a business isn’t scaling How to grow without venture capital Why scaling from $100M to $200M is so difficult What changes at each stage of growth How to compete with global firms like Accenture and Infosys The real impact of AI on software businesses Why AI is both a threat and an opportunity How culture and people drive success The role of persistence over decades Why teaching skills creates more impact than charity⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - Cold open 00:55 - Introducing Gowri Subramanian and Aspire Systems 02:00 - What Aspire Systems does 05:00 - Moving from India to Singapore and Ireland 06:00 - Starting with no plan or funding 09:00 - 7 founders to 3 12:00 - Early business model and pivot 13:30 - Shutting down one business 14:30 - Road to profitability 18:00 - Early ambition 21:30 - Bootstrapping vs VC 22:30 - Growth to $100M 25:30 - Scaling challenges 27:30 - “Business is a rat race” 29:30 - AI and the future 34:30 - Culture and leadership 37:00 - Open feedback 40:00 - Founder mindset 47:30 - Angel investing 50:00 - India’s growth 59:30 - Philanthropy 01:05:00 - Long-term visionTopics covered:Entrepreneurship, scaling a business, bootstrapping, venture capital, AI and business, software industry, technology services, leadership, company culture, global expansion, startups, India economy, product engineering, long-term business building, philanthropy, founders
Transcribe →Viva La Vulva! with Laura Dowling, fabÜ
Mar 2301:08:38Tap to summarize🔔🔔 Laura Dowling, founder of fabÜ, built a business by talking about topics most people avoid; and it changed everything 🔔🔔Laura Dowling joins Business Builders to share how she turned women’s health - one of the most overlooked and under-discussed areas in healthcare - into a fast-growing brand, a platform, and a movement.What started as years of frustration working as a pharmacist and seeing women suffer in silence with issues no one was talking about, evolved into a business, a movement, and a platform for education.Laura explains how she spent over a decade developing formulations before launching fabÜ from her couch, without retail backing or a traditional business plan. By building an audience on Instagram and speaking openly about topics many considered taboo, she created demand first - and the business followed.Along the way, she uncovered something deeper: women’s health has been historically misunderstood, under-discussed, and often dismissed. From menopause to intimate health, many women simply aren’t given the language, knowledge, or confidence to understand their own bodies.In this episode, Laura shares how she turned that insight into a brand, a live show, and a bestselling book - all while staying true to her voice and refusing to sanitise the message.She also opens up about failure, launching without a plan, living with ADHD as a founder, and why building a business doesn’t always follow a straight line.This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, identity, and the power of saying the things no one else is willing to say.“People are embarassed to talk about it - but that’s exactly why it matters.”🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:Why Laura started fabÜ and the problem she saw in women’s health How she built a business without a traditional plan The realities of launching a product with no retail backing Why Instagram played a key role in growing her audience How taboo topics became her biggest advantage What women’s health issues are still not being talked about How to build a brand by being unapologetically yourself The role of ADHD in her entrepreneurial journey Why founders should trust instinct over “perfect” market research How purpose and mission can drive long-term business growth⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - Cold open 00:55 - Introducing Laura Dowling and fabÜ 02:10 - Launching the business from her couch 05:30 - Preventative health vs “sick care” 08:45 - Building an audience on Instagram 14:00 - ADHD and the entrepreneurial mind 21:00 - Why we don’t talk about women’s health 24:45 - The talk that changed everything 27:30 - Turning taboo into a business 30:15 - Breaking stigma and building a brand 35:30 - Growing without a traditional plan 39:15 - Ask for forgiveness, not permission 43:15 - Trusting instinct over market research 53:00 - Hiring, team building and culture 01:00:00 - Asking for help and final adviceTopics covered:Entrepreneurship, women’s health, fabÜ, supplements, startup founders, personal branding, Instagram marketing, ADHD and business, health education, building a brand, taboo topics, consumer products.
Transcribe →From SAAS to Snacks with Jayne Ronayne (OAC Snacks | Talivest)
Mar 1601:05:44Tap to summarizeMy guest today is Jayne Ronayne, Co-Founder and CEO of OAC Snacks, an e-commerce company focusing on high protein snacks that are simple, delicious and made for real life. Jayne previously founded employee experience platform Talivest, which raised over €3 million in its lifetime (from some very big named investors) and was acquired by the Australian tech company Go1 in 2022.In this chat, Jayne talks about:Why she’s turning her back on the business “holy grail” of SAAS, and getting into the difficult & competitive food industry Starting and Growing Talivest to a successful exitWhy she views being dyslexic as an advantage in business Burnout, fund raising, and the importance of healthy food in our lives. Much moreTopics covered: Entrepreneurship, SAAS, software companies, raising venture capital, food startups, OAC Snacks, protein snacks, food manufacturing, consumer brands, startup founders, healthy snack industry, product development, building a food brand.
Transcribe →Building Silicon Republic: How Ann O’Dea Built One of Ireland’s Leading Tech Media Companies
Mar 901:06:01Tap to summarizeAnn O’Dea joins Business Builders for a wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, technology, artificial intelligence, and building a media business at the dawn of the internet.As co-founder of Silicon Republic, Ann helped launch one of Ireland’s leading technology news platforms at a time when almost nobody was reading news online. Advertisers didn’t believe in digital media, the audience was tiny, and the future of the internet was still uncertain.Instead of waiting for the market to catch up, she built for where the world was going.From cycling floppy disks between newsrooms in the early days of digital publishing, to navigating the 2008 financial crash, media disruption, and the rise of AI and the modern tech industry, Ann explains what it takes to build and sustain a niche media company for more than 25 years.But this episode goes far beyond journalism.Ann reflects on the emotional reality of founding and running a business - worrying about payroll even decades into entrepreneurship, learning the hard lessons of hiring, and the importance of having a co-founder when building a startup.She also shares her views on the future of artificial intelligence, technology, and digital media, and why diversity in STEM is essential if we want the best minds solving the world’s biggest problems.This is a conversation about resilience, curiosity, leadership, and building a business that evolves alongside the technology shaping the modern world.🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:Why Ann launched Silicon Republic when almost nobody was onlineWhat it was like building a digital media startup in the early internet eraThe realities of entrepreneurship - even after 25 years in businessWhy having a co-founder can make or break a startupThe difference between chasing clicks and building real audiencesHow the 2008 financial crisis nearly destroyed the businessWhy curiosity is one of the most important traits in journalism and leadershipThe risks and opportunities of AI in media and technologyWhy purpose matters more than money for long-term entrepreneursWhy women in STEM are essential for the future of innovation⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - The early days of the internet 01:17 - What Silicon Republic actually does as a business 05:22 - The realities of entrepreneurship 12:16 - Why founders should consider having a co-founder 17:53 - Why niche audiences beat clickbait 25:36 - Lessons from the 2008 financial crash 29:32 - Why purpose matters in business 31:46 - Hiring the right people 42:49 - The future of AI and technology 59:32 - Why women in STEM mattersTopics covered: Entrepreneurship, startup leadership, Silicon Republic, technology journalism, artificial intelligence, AI and media, digital publishing, founders, building a media company, tech industry trends.
Transcribe →John Teeling: The Man Who Helped Revive Irish Whiskey
Mar 201:22:50Tap to summarizeJohn Teeling joins Business Builders for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about risk, resilience, and the 20-year bet that helped revive Irish whiskey. When John entered the industry in the 1980s, Irish whiskey had fallen to under 2% of the global market. Consolidated into a struggling monopoly and written off by many, it looked like a declining category. Instead of walking away, he built. From buying a shuttered chemical plant in Dundalk and installing second-hand pot stills, to navigating bank loan recalls, political pressure, and years without meaningful profit, John explains what it really took to build Cooley Distillery; and why the payoff took nearly two decades. But this episode goes far beyond whiskey. John shares lessons from decades in mining, resources, and investing, where high risk doesn’t mean high reward, but high probability of loss. He breaks down the difference between risk and uncertainty, why “the Euro is an orphan,” and why unsophisticated investors should never be in speculative markets. This is a conversation about long-term conviction, imposter syndrome, stubborn belief, and building businesses that outlast downturns. At 80 years old, John reflects on endurance, energy, family, legacy, and what it really means to take responsibility when you persuade others to back your vision.🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:- Why Irish whiskey collapsed - and how it came back- What it takes to break a monopoly- The difference between risk and uncertainty- Why high risk usually means high loss- How to build a distillery from scratch- What investors get wrong about speculative markets- The psychological cost of entrepreneurship- Why you don’t need to love the product to build the business- How patience compounds over decades- What most founders misunderstand about conviction⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - Why banks shouldn’t accept uncertainty 01:23 - Growing up in Dublin and early responsibility 17:06 - The £1 million target by 40 24:18 - “A euro is an orphan” 33:10 - How mining companies are really funded 46:30 - The failed takeover of Irish Distillers 58:15 - Buying a plant “for bottles” 01:00:14 - “I sold women’s knickers…” 01:02:17 - 20 years before real profit 01:08:18 - “The value of a half-built hole is zero” 01:13:16 - Energy, longevity and playing rugby at 60
Transcribe →The business of saving lives – Evelyn Kelly on how Orphan Drugs actually reach patients
Feb 2300:59:40Tap to summarizeEvelyn Kelly joins Business Builders for a powerful conversation about rare disease medicine, scaling a global consultancy, and what it really means to build a business with purpose.From starting at her kitchen table in 2017 with no formal plan, to growing Orphan Drug Consulting from €250,000 to €5 million in just four years, Evelyn shares how she built a specialist pharma consultancy that has helped over 70 companies launch medicines in more than 100 countries.But this isn’t just a growth story.Evelyn works in the world of orphan drugs — treatments for rare diseases, many of which affect children. With over 7,000 rare diseases globally and fewer than 10% having approved treatments, she explains the regulatory, commercial and supply chain realities behind getting life-saving medicines to patients.The conversation explores what most people never see: clinical trial constraints, reimbursement battles across Europe, US pricing pressure, post-Brexit complexity, and the volatility currently hitting the biotech investment market.Alongside the technical depth, Evelyn reflects on leadership — absorbing hard feedback, building processes that allow scale, being responsible for other people’s livelihoods, and why managing risk isn’t about fear, but about stability.This episode is a grounded, high-level look at the intersection of purpose and process — and what it takes to build a resilient business in one of the most complex industries in the world.🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:– What orphan drugs actually are — and why they matter – How rare disease medicines get from lab to patient – Why Europe is becoming less viable for pharma launches – The real commercial realities behind life-saving drugs – How to scale from €250k to €5m without losing control – Why process matters more than headcount – The leadership lessons from absorbing difficult feedback – How to manage risk without limiting growth – Why branding and integrity go hand in hand – What volatility in the US means for global pharma⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – “We got that medicine to a child” 01:07 – What orphan drugs actually are 07:01 – Cystic fibrosis and Ireland’s unique prevalence 18:12 – Starting at the kitchen table in 2017 20:20 – Scaling from €250k to €5m 21:38 – Why process is the key to growth 26:59 – The BBC story that made it real 31:16 – Integrity vs selling what clients ask for 34:36 – Learning leadership the hard way 38:39 – Leadership for Growth and putting a board in place 52:26 – Why pharma investment has slowed 55:07 – Rolling with the curveball 58:07 – Avoiding burnout as an entrepreneur🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. 👇 Full episode link in the comments.
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